The world of props

Props play an integral role in any theatre production. They dress a set and bring to life the world the playwright imagined. Props inhabit the space the characters find themselves in and can help create an important narrative for a particular scene.

In the Abbey Theatre, props are reused and recycled to fit the needs of a given production. One such piece used in Aristocrats is the oak desk in the library. American academic Tom Hoffnung works at this desk while chronicling the stories and memories of the O’Donnell family. This desk has been part of the Abbey Theatre props department for over 25 years. 

Every other prop on stage has been used in some capacity in previous productions including the footstool, which appeared in Brian Friel’s adaptation of Three Sisters in 2008.